Nonskid walking spur



Feb. 27, 1945. A. HALL NONSKID WALKING SPUR Filed Jur le 10, 1944 INVENTOR fllberf Hull BY a ATT NEY Patented Feb. 27, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NONSKID WALKING SPUR Albert Hall, Philadelphia, Pa. Application June 10, 1944, ,Serial No. 539,744

2 Claims.

My invention relates to non-skid walking spurs, and relates particularly to a device which can be readily attached or detached from the heel of a shoe at will.

It is an object of my invention to provide a. non-skid device for shoes which may be used when walking or traveling on snow, ice, on the soil, or grass.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a device of the character described which is simple in construction and which may be manufactured at a slight cost.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an underfoot gripping member which may be applied to mens, womens, or childrens shoes.

Another object of my invention is to provide a. non-skid walking spurwhich is symmetrically constructed so that it may be equally adapted for use when applied to either a left or right shoe.

Other objects of my invention are to provide an improved device of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction and which is highly efficient in operation.

With the above and related objects in View, my invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a non-skid spur embodying my invention as applied to the heel of a shoe.

Fig. 2 is a. bottom view of the non-skid walking spur. a

Fig. 3 is an end view of the spur.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a modification of a walking spur embodying my invention as applied to a woman's shoe.

Fig. 5 is a bottom View of the modification of the spur as illustrated inFig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a rear end view of the spur shown in Fi 5.

Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the walking spur of Fig. 5 showing the spur in reversed position on the outline of a heel.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout, a heel of a shoe is indicated as In and a non-skid walking spur embodying my invention is indicated generally as A. The spur A is constructed of a single piece or strip of still? rod or wire and it is formed to comprise a central main shank portion l2 which is adapted to rest or bear against the ground.

From the main shank portion l2, the wire is bent outwardly to form short arms [4, [6 which may bear or rest against the inner or shank portion of the heel l0, and the arms l4, II; are located beneath the shank of the shoe. Contiguous, with short arms [4, [B are long arms, or sides, I8, 20 bent to rest against the sides of the heel ID of the shoe.

The sides l8,.20 extend to the back of the heel.

They bend downwardly at l9 and 2| and then are offset at 22, 24 to rest directly under the heel l0. From the heel touching portions 22, 24 are downwardly extending members or points 26 and 28, respectively, whose dull points 30 and 32 engage the underfoot surface.

The sides IB, 20 appear in one horizontal plane which I shall designate the top horizontal plane; the offset portions 22, 24 appear in a horizontal plane spaced from the top horizontal plane, the points 26 and 28 are positioned in a vertical plane, and the central portion l2 appears in a plane inclined about 45 to the top horizontal plane, but beneath the top horizontal plane when the top horizontal plane is extended.

The center 12 of the rod A is inclined at an angle of approximately 45 so that it is beneath the shank of the shoe and it is low enough to be on the level with the points 26 and 28 so that there is a three-point rest for the spur A. A serration or gripping slot 34 may be placed on the bottom of the central portion l2 of the spur in order to firmly grip the ground, ice or snow, or any other slippery surface.

It is to be noted that the oil'set ends 22, 24 of the spur A are spaced apart so that there exists a certain degree of resiliency so that the spur may be placed upon the heel of the shoe by pulling on the resilient ends 22, 24 which are contiguous to the long arms I8, 20. Hence, the resilient long arms I8, 20 of the clamping portion fit closely around the sides of the heel. The points 26 and 28 form bearing points which serve to effectually hold the creeper from displacement with respect to the ice, soil, or snow. The central shank portion I2 has a depression or ridge 34 therein to serve as an additional holder.

To detach the spur, it is only necessary to push upon extension 36 on the arm 20 or to push one of the long arms downwardly and forwardly, or spread one of the clamping portions laterally, so the spur A can readily and easily be removed. I place a plate or extension 36 so that the foot on which the spur is not placed may be used to push against the extensionv or plate 36 to slide the spur from the heel of the shoe.

It is to be noted that my spur has a threepointcontact; it has a kick-ofl plate or extension; it has an extension loop; and it has a stop effect.

A spur, generally designated as B, is adaptable for very high ladies heels, and it is constructed similarly to the spur A for mens shoes. The central main part I! of the wire or rod of which the spur is formed as an integral unit has a serration or slot 34 therein and the central part l2 rests beneath the heel. The ends of the central main portion I! of the spur B are bent to form two parallel horizontally extending arms 40 and 42 which directly bear against the bottom of the heel. The other ends of the supporting arms'M" and 42 are turned to join contiguous vertical arms 4i (one arm 4| only being shown in the drawing) whereby the vertical arms 4! are formed to join long side arms l8 and 20. The arms 22 and 24 and the points 26 and 28 are similarly constructed in men's and womens type of walking spurs.

In Fig. 5, I show the walking spur as applied to theoutline of a heel whereby the points are to the rear andthe third portion is to the front of the heel.

In Fig. 7, I show the walking. spur B reversed from the position of Fig. 5, wherein the pointed ends are at the front of the heel and the central portion of the spur is at the rear'of the heel. I

consider the change in location to be advisable depending onthe conditions under which the spur is worn.

It is apparent in view of the aforementioned detailed description and described function of my invention that the device may be formed in a press; there is no welding of parts which otherwise would involve costly operations; and that the spur affords protection to persons who must walk on the ice or snow, or to persons who walk upon the grass or soil, such as golfers.

Although my invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended a illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A walking spur comprising a single metallic rod deformed to provide two spaced long arms adapted to press against the sides of a shoe heel, a central connecting portion extending at an inclined angle to the plane in which said long arms are located and being lower in position than said long arms, two substantially vertically extending portions to grip the ground, and said central connecting portion being adapted to be in the ground plane to form a three point ground gripping spur.

2. A walking spur comprising a single metallic rod deformed to provide two spaced long arms adapted to press against the sides of a shoe heel, a central connecting portion extending at an inclined angle to the plane in which said long arms are located and being lower in position than said long arms, two substantially vertically extending ortions to grip the ground, said central connecting portion being adapted to be in the ground plane to form a three point ground gripping spur, an extension on one of said long arms extending outwardly whereby said extension may be pushed by the wearer in order to remove said spur.

ALBERT HALL. 

